Fewa Lake Watershed Protection Plan Implementation Begins

Kaski. Concerned bodies have stepped up efforts to implement the Fewa Lake watershed protection plan, which is included in the government's 100-point governance reform program.

The governance reform program includes protecting the watershed area by removing encroachments, managing landslides, conserving springs, and implementing climate change adaptation programs in the Fewa protected watershed area. The Department of Forests and Soil Conservation, the Greater Watershed Management Center, and the District Soil and Watershed Conservation Committee in Gandaki and Kaski have initiated efforts to implement the 'Fewa Protected Watershed Management Plan' prepared in fiscal year 2078/79.

Lilaadhar Poudel, coordinator of the District Soil and Watershed Conservation Committee and chief of the District Coordination Committee, stated that suggestions have been given to the Department of Forests and Soil Conservation to update and revise the Fewa Protected Watershed Management Plan before implementation.

He said that the plan will be implemented after it is approved by the department. The plan was formulated with an implementation period from 2022 to 2031.

Chief Poudel stated that it is the responsibility of all concerned parties to implement this plan, as the government has included the protection of the Fewa Lake watershed area as a high priority in its 100-point governance reforms. He also mentioned that the committee's meeting decided to implement the plan effectively.

A team of experts, including Uddhav Bahadur Ghimire, Deputy Director General of the Department, recently conducted an on-site inspection of the Fewa protected watershed area and discussed the implementation of the plan with stakeholders. It has been informed that the management plan prepared by the Watershed Management Center will be implemented through the center itself after being approved by the department with updates and revisions.

Under this plan, programs will be conducted to remove and restore encroachments in the watershed area, conserve springs and water sources, prevent landslides, plant trees, beautify the area, and adapt to climate change. This management plan is being brought forth to protect Fewa Lake, which has been increasingly encroached upon due to human and natural causes. The Supreme Court had previously ordered the removal of structures within 65 meters of Fewa Lake.

Information Officer of the Watershed Management Center, Amar Adhikari, informed that the Fewa Lake protected watershed area spans 123 square kilometers.